Kurahaupō Waka Journey

Overview

A 60-minute session for Year 4 (Tau 4) students focusing on the kaupapa: Te Whakaterenga mai o Kurahaupō waka. This lesson integrates Reo ā-Waha (oral language), Pānui (reading), and Tuhituhi (writing) following the rangaranga reo ā tā approach under Te Ara Tohu. It addresses varying language levels, prioritising oral language as the foundation.

This lesson aligns explicitly with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and incorporates components from Te Aho Matua pou and Tirohanga Whānui 2026 Wehenga 1. Strategies include explicit teaching and spiraled learning progression designed to build knowledge progressively over a 9-week term. Assessment connections include Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā, Hopukina, and Pānui Haere frameworks.

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Learning Objectives (Whāinga)

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Whakarongo (listen) and kōrero (speak) about the story of Kurahaupō waka using key vocabulary confidently and with growing fluency. (Reo ā-Waha)
• Pānui (read) selected texts related to Kurahaupō waka, identifying key vocabulary and sentence structures from oral and written sources.
• Compose purposeful sentences in Tuhituhi demonstrating understanding of Kurahaupō waka’s significance.
• Develop sentence-building skills using learnt vocabulary, supported by visual and oral scaffolds.
• Demonstrate understanding through formative oral and written tasks linked to Rangaranga reo ā tā.

Standards alignment:

• Orally recount narratives with descriptive details and appropriate intonation (Year 4 level) (Te Mātaiaho English curriculum)
• Use key vocabulary from Māori narratives and construct sentences using basic grammar (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Language strand, Tau 4 capabilities)
• Demonstrate listening comprehension and respond appropriately using Reo ā-Waha techniques

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Resources

• Illustrated storybook/pictorial resource on Te Whakaterenga mai o Kurahaupō waka (age-appropriate Māori-medium texts)
• Vocabulary flashcards with key Kurahaupō words (e.g., waka, iwi, manu, wai, moana, teina, tuakana)
• Sentence-building cards and key sentence stems
• Whiteboard and markers
• Individual writing pads and pencils
• Audio recount of the Kurahaupō journey for listening practice
• Visual story map/diagram of Kurahaupō waka’s journey

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity Description	Details & Teaching Notes	Assessment Links
0–10 min	Whakawhanaungatanga / Oral Introduction	- Begin with a karakia and a brief mihi.

• Introduce the kaupapa: the journey of Kurahaupō waka.
• Use visual story map to orientate student understanding of the waka’s voyage.
• Share key vocabulary orally with pronunciation modelling. Use flashcards and choral response.
• Scaffold with sentence stems: “Ko te waka o Kurahaupō...”, “I haere ngā iwi ki...” | Formative oral feedback on vocabulary recall and pronunciation; encourage all students to participate. (Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā) | | 10–25 min | Pānui: Shared Reading | - Read aloud a short narrative Māori text telling the story of Kurahaupō waka.
• Use explicit teaching of key vocabulary and sentence structures.
• Pause for students to predict, ask questions, and respond to key points.
• Use context clues to decode unfamiliar words (te ara tohu: rangaranga reo ā tā approach).
• Visual and oral scaffold: matching pictures to vocabulary.
• Encourage use of learned vocabulary to describe parts of the journey orally. | Observation of listening and responding skills; note student engagement and comprehension. (Hopukina & Pānui Haere) | | 25–40 min | Tuhituhi: Purposeful Sentence Writing | - Provide sentence-building cards with vocabulary and phrases.
• Model writing a few sentences about Kurahaupō waka using simple sentence structures, linking vocabulary learnt.
• Students write 3-5 sentences individually, with scaffolding as needed (sentence stems, word banks).
• Encourage use of precise nouns and verbs.
• Pair-share writing for feedback, focusing on verbal expression before writing. | Collect written sentences for formative assessment; provide oral feedback. Focus on use of vocabulary, simple grammar, and sentence coherence. | | 40–55 min | Oral Language Practice and Story Retell | - In pairs or small groups, students rehearse retelling the Kurahaupō waka story using their own words, supported by the story map and vocabulary cards.
• Use voice modulation and intonation explicitly modelled to make retellings engaging.
• Some students may be recorded reading or retelling for playback to self-assess and develop fluency.
• Encourage inclusion of sequence words (tuatahi, ā muri ake nei, nā reira), to structure speech. | Oral presentations assessed via Rangaranga reo ā tā rubrics focusing on clarity, engagement, and use of key vocabulary and sentence structures. | | 55–60 min | Whakakapi / Reflection | - Class discussion: What have we learned about Kurahaupō waka?
• Review key vocabulary orally and visually.
• Share any favorite sentence or phrase from writing or speaking activities.
• Set a simple learning challenge for next week to deepen exploration.
• Karakia whakamutunga. | Self and peer assessment prompts; teacher notes for next lesson focus. |

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Teaching Considerations & Differentiation

• Use Te Ara Tohu rangaranga reo ā tā spiralling strategy: revisit vocabulary and sentence structure weekly to build fluency and confidence.
• Support emergent bilingual learners with additional visual aids, oral repetition, and pairing with fluent speakers.
• Use digital tools or audio recordings where possible for diverse learning needs.
• Encourage student choice in vocabulary for writing and retelling to foster agency and motivation.
• Scaffold assessment to be formative and growth-focused, aligned with Rangaranga reo ā tā, Hopukina, Pānui Haere frameworks.
• Link learning explicitly to Te Aho Matua pou principles by emphasising holistic identity through language connected to whakapapa and whenua (identity through Kurahaupō waka story).

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Assessment Connection

This lesson’s assessment threads into engaged listening, oral use of vocabulary, reading comprehension of Māori texts, and written sentence construction. These are connected to Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā rubrics detailing fluency, accuracy, and engagement; Hopukina for comprehension and oral participation; and Pānui Haere for reading fluency and vocabulary acquisition.

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Spiral Curriculum Planning (9 Weeks)

• Week 1–3: Focus on oral vocabulary and story sequencing for Kurahaupō waka.
• Week 4–6: Expand sentence building, reading comprehension of narrative texts, and beginning purposeful writing.
• Week 7–9: Engage in retelling stories with expression, producing multi-paragraph writing with headings, and peer presentations.

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This lesson plan marries traditional knowledge and contemporary literacy strategies, cultivating Māori language proficiency foundational for life-long learning and cultural identity in line with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and Te Aho Matua pou.